Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
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to receive with favor the "Republican Army of the North" when it made its advance, as were also his many acquaintances in the frontier outpost.' 3 Violati(m.S of neutrali.t-y. While all this was happening, the Federal authorities of the United States took no real steps to prevent violations of neutrality. Both the State and War Departments had been kept regu- larly infonned of developments by Shaler and Sibley. Governor Claiborne, the chief local official, who had the authority to enforce the neutrality law, could easily have imprisoned the bold filibusters who daily boasted of their schemes in all the towns along the Louisiana frontier, but he did nothing in spite of the instructions issued the preceding year. He had written to Judge Carr and the commander of the garrison in Natchitoches that it was advisable that all persons engaged in organizing military expeditions against "a foreign state" within the jurisdiction of the United States should be arrested and bound over on their good behavior. At that time he reminded these officials that persons engaged in such activities were guilty of high misdemeanor and were punishable by fine not exceed- ing three thousand dollars and imprisonment not exceeding three years. Although the provisions of the Neutrality Act of 1794, to which Gover- nor Claiborne referred, were made known to the public as requested, the people of Natchitoches absolutely disregarded the warning and the officials conveniently forgot all about it. Perhaps the return of Gutierrez in the company of an agent from the State Department was interpreted as an indication that the law was not to be enforced. Be that as it may, a letter written by Claiborne to Secretary of State Monroe on July 6, 1812, less than a month before the attack by the forces of Gutierrez and Magee on Nacogdoches, is very significant. He therein set forth his opinion that it was unnecessary to interfere, because he had been assured by a gentleman connected with the expedition now being organized that no action would be taken until it was known that war had been declared against England. 44 The public as well as the officials appeared to have been under the impression that war with England meant war with Spain and that it was, consequently, their duty to attack the Spanish outposts without loss of time. News of the long expected declaration of war reached Natchitoches the last week in July. Thi~ was the signal for the men in the Neutral Ground area to see their repressed dreams of conquest realized. By August I everything was in readiness. Town gossipers proudly proclaimed that 41 Montero to Governor Salcedo, Nacogdoches, July 7, 1812, Bexar Arclliv11. 44 Clalborne, Letter Boo/ts, V, 319-322, VI, 122, edited by Rowland.
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